Category Archives: Turners Corner GA

Turner’s Corner Cafe, 1928, Lumpkin County

Heading south on US 19 from Blood Mountain to Cleveland, you’ll pass by this place. Originally built as a gas station and then expanded into a country store, it’s been a cafe for many years. Of its many owners across the decades, it’s founder Charles Turner is best known. He was a local legend who famously kept a soda-guzzling pet bear. Heavily guarded all-night poker games with local politicians are as much a part of its history as are Friday-night dances for local teenagers back in the 50s. With such diversity, it’s a wonderful survivor. After going into foreclosure in 2009, the building sat empty for two years; Steve Amoruso bought it and stabilized it while retaining its integrity.